---
title: 🕢 Managing Deliveries During Rush Hours or When There's an Adverse Weather Conditions
description: When courier fleets are very busy (e.g. weekend evenings, holidays, bad weather), it can take longer than usual for drivers to be assigned and to reach your store.
---

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# 🕢 Managing Deliveries During Rush Hours or When There's an Adverse Weather Conditions

## When courier fleets are very busy (e.g. weekend evenings, holidays, bad weather), it can take longer than usual for drivers to be assigned and to reach your store.

### You can reduce stress and protect your customer experience by adjusting:

- Your **preparation time** using [**Activity Mode**](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/changing-your-preparation-time?hsLang=en), and
- Your **delivery area** using [**Busy Driving Zone**](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/setting-your-busy-driving-zone?hsLang=en).

### Step 1 – Understand peak‑hour behaviour with Slerp courier partners

During peak times: 

- Couriers may take **longer to accept** jobs.
- Drivers might be **further away** when assigned.
- Traffic or weather can affect arrival times.

Slerp books couriers based on your **prep time** and the **customer’s chosen slot**. <https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/delivery-with-slerp-courier-partners?hsLang=en>

For details on how bookings work for ASAP, scheduled, and pre‑orders, see:

**[🚘 Delivery with Slerp Courier Partners](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/delivery-with-slerp-courier-partners?hsLang=en)**

### Step 2 – Increase preparation time when you’re busy

If your kitchen is busy but your prep time is still set low, drivers may arrive before orders are ready, or customers may see unrealistic ETAs.

Use **Activity Mode** to change your prep time based on how busy you are:

1. Log in to **[Controls Dashboard](https://controls.slerp.com/)** with your admin account.
2. Go to **Locations** and select the right location.
3. Go to **Settings \> Same Day Orders \> Preparation Time**.
4. Set prep times for each mode: **Quiet**, **Moderate**, and **Busy**.
5. Your store team can then switch modes in the **Slerp app** as the day gets busier.

![](https://support.slerp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-12-2026-01-26-34-5663-PM.png?width=670&height=382&name=image-png-Jun-12-2026-01-26-34-5663-PM.png)

For full guide, see:

**[How to use Activity Mode](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/changing-your-preparation-time?hsLang=en)**

### **What this does for you:**

- When set to **Busy**, customers cannot place orders for very near‑term fulfilment (e.g. within 30 minutes, depending on your settings).
- This gives your kitchen and drivers more realistic time to complete orders.
- It helps reduce complaints about late orders during peak hours.

### Step 3 – Shrink your delivery area when fleets are stretched

When fleets are under pressure, long‑distance deliveries are the riskiest for delays. You can protect your experience by turning on a **Busy Driving Zone**.

1. Log in to **[Controls Dashboard](https://controls.slerp.com/)**.
2. Go to **Locations \> \[your location\] \> Settings**.
3. Go to **Same‑day orders \> Delivery**.
4. Configure a **Busy delivery zone** – a smaller area closer to your store.
5. Save your changes.

When your Activity Mode is set to **Busy**, Slerp will automatically use this **Busy delivery zone** instead of your regular one.

![](https://support.slerp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-12-2026-01-29-31-8513-PM.png?width=703&height=655&name=image-png-Jun-12-2026-01-29-31-8513-PM.png)

For full guide, see:

[**🗺️ Setting your Busy Driving Zone**](https://support.slerp.com/knowledge/setting-your-busy-driving-zone?hsLang=en)

### **What this does for you:**

- Reduces long‑distance deliveries when couriers and kitchens are stretched.
- Keeps ETAs more realistic and protects your reviews.
- Lets you still take orders from nearby customers even when you’re very busy.

### Step 4 – Operational tips during peak hours

- **Monitor orders and driver status** 
    - Use the **Orders** tab in Controls and the **Track courier** feature in the app to spot potential delays early.
- **Proactively communicate with customers** 
    - If you see delays, contact the customer directly to explain and adjust expectations.
- **Adjust settings ahead of peak** 
    - Set **Busy** prep times and Busy Driving Zone before your known peak times (e.g. 6–9pm Fridays).
- **Review after peak periods** 
    - Check how your delivery times and complaints looked, then adjust zones and prep times if needed.

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